Executives from the two companies announced the deal in January. It would make Outokumpu the world's largest stainless steel maker. The deal still has to pass regulatory hurdles, and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

ThyssenKrupp Stainless USA operates a 550-worker facility in north Mobile County. Workers are finishing a stainless melt shop there that, when complete, should push employment toward a target figure of 900.

Outokumpu officials have said growth in the North American and Asian markets was a key to the deal for them.

Outokumpu's North American operations and ThyssenKrupp's Calvert facility appear to complement each other. Outokumpu -- pronounced ow-too-KUM-poo -- makes stainless steel pipes, bars and plates in America, but it imports from Europe the stainless steel coils it sells here. The Calvert facility specializes in making stainless steel coils